tyler



Patented Dec. .28. 1858.

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Ker, Washinrzkm. D C

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

G. N. TYLER, OF \VASHING'ION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ILLUMINATING-GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,463, dated December 28, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. TYLER, of the city of )Vashington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Apparatus for Generating Illuminating-Gas, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 represents a plan of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 a horizontalsection of the same; and Fig. 8 a vertical transverse section of thesame taken through the line 50 0c of Fig. l and looking toward the doorend of the retort.

My improvement relates more particularly to that class of gas generatingappav ratus in which the gaseous products evolved from the drydistillation of the gasiferous material is combined with hydrogen gasfor the purpose of manufacturing a better quality of gas in largerquantities than is produced by the common mode of manufacturingilluminating gas.

My improvement consists first in a peculiar and effective arrangementand combination of retorts for generating the hydrogen gassimultaneously with, and with the same furnace used for the generationof the carbureted hydrogen, in the retort used for that purpose by thedry distillation of coal, oil, tar, rosin, and all other such substanceshaw ing a high equivalent of carbon in a condi tion suitable for themanufacture of illuminating gas; and secondly it consists in forming therear end of the retort from which the gas escapes as it is evolved, of aconlcal, or contracted and elongated shape as compared with the body ofthe retort by means of which the escape of the gas as it is generated isretarded and kept at a high degree of heat for a time sufiicient toeffect its transformation into a permanent gas; and thirdly it consistsin leading the hydrogen gas into the narrow and contracted part orthroat of the retort previous to the passage of either from the retort,whereby the union of the two is not only expedited, but effected at sucha degree of heat as to insure the formation of a permanent gas betweenthem, previous to its passage into the receiver thereby preventing thefuture formation of pyroligneous acid, tar, and other kindredsubstances.

To enable others skilled in the art to make construct and use myinvention I will now proceed to describe its construction and operationin detail.

In the accompanying dawing the three retorts used in this instance arerepresented being cast in one piece, but they may all be done separatelyand afterward fitted and secured together in any suitable manner.

In the main retort (A) the material from which the carbureted hydrogenor illuminating gas is to be evolved is placed, while the water fromwhich the hydrogen gas is to be generated is passed into the smallretort or boiler (B) through the pipe (C), which for this purpose may beconnected with a tank or reservoir of water. The water thus passed intothe boiler (B) is generated into steam and passes over the main retort(A) through a pipe (C) leading into the retort (D) where it is broughtinto contactwith red hot iron or other suitable material for decomposingthe steam into its constituent parts, to wit, oxygen and hydro gen gas,the red hotiron taking up the oxygen forming an oxid of iron, andsetting free the hydrogen, which pases off along with the undecomposedsteam at the rear end of the retort, and is led into the contracted partof the main retort through an opening (a) in its side where it mixeswith the gaseous products of the wood, coal, or other material beingdistilled in the main retort (A). The hydrogen being thus mixed with thegaseous products before mentioned previous to its exit from the mainretort; and the passage of the combined gases being retarded by theelongated and contracted form of the main retort, and that while under ahigh degree of heat (about a cherry red heat inasmuch as their union iseffected at a point under the direct action of the furnace, thecombination of the gases is effected under the most favorablecircumstances as well to effect their union as the formation of apermanent gas.

In the use of course of hydrogen the quantity used will be governed bythe redundancy of the carbonaceous matter contained in the materialsbeing used for the generation of the illuminating gas.

If deemed advisable iron or other sub stances used for the generation ofthe hy drogen gas may also be placed in the boiler, but as a rule it isunnecessary, although at times it may be advantageously adopted, or theboiler (B) itself may be dispensed with and the water allowed to dropdirectly in passing through a flange (it) formed on or otherwise securedto the retorts. Thus secured the joints if deemed necessary for thepurpose of preventing the escape of the gas at that end while beinggenerated, may be luted with any suitable material applied in the usualmanner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the elongationand contraction of the rear end of the retort for the purpose of moreeffectually forming a permanent gas, thereby avoiding the formation oftar and other such substances may be beneficially applied to otherretorts besides those in which it is combined with retorts for thegeneration of hydrogen gas.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. The peculiar arrangement and combination of the retort for generatingthe hydrogen gas with the main retort for the generation of theilluminating gas substantially as set forth.

2. Elongating and contracting the rear end of the main retort in themanner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

3. Connecting the rear end of the hydro gen retort with the contractedend of the main retort in the manner and for the purposes substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand to this specification.

o. NI YLER.

Witnesses I. HANNAY, V. M. BRYANT.

